Advanced Practitioners and What They Do That Is Different

Abstract

The American Dietetic Association has been working to define advanced practice for over a decade. This article will describe a clinical dietitian's experience while developing nutrition-focused physical examination (NFPE) skills at a higher level. Although basic techniques of NFPE are considered an entry-level skill, clinical registered dietitians may move along a continuum toward advanced practice and application of the NFPE. This occurs through a pathway of professional education, of on-going experience, knowledge, and observations, and of advanced achievement in the clinical setting. Critical thinking skills are sharpened, with experience, to interpret nutrition-focused physical findings in complex cases.